Actuating mechanism



May 23, 1933. E. DAVIS ACTUATING MECHANISM Original Filed April 19, 1928 I N l' 'EN TOR.

A T TORNE YS PatentedA May 23, 1933 UNITED STATS -PATENT 4OFFICE ERNEST DAVIS, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE PROSPERITY COMPANY i INC.,- OF SYRAC'USE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK ACTUATING MECHANISM Application led April 19, 1928, Serial No. 271,308. Renewed June 22, 1932.

This invention relates to operating mechanism for machines having an opening and closing movement, particularly garment and laundry pressing machines.

The invention has for its object a particularly simple and efficient means for controlling the flow of motive fluid to and from the motor.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and construc- Itions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanymg drawing in which like characters designate corresponding parts l in all the views.

Figure 1 is a sectional view, partly diagrammatic, of the operating mechanism..

Figure 2 is a side elevation of a pressmg machine embodying the invention.

Figure 3 is a detail view illustrating the position of the locking lever and push button when the push button-is depressed.

The actuating mechanism for the garment or laundry press comprises a fluid operated motor, a conduitsystem for supplying a motive Huid as compressed air to the motor, a valve for controlling the flow of lnotive Huid to and from the motor, pressure operated means forcontrolling the operation of the valve, manually operated valve means for controlling the iiow of motive fluidV to the pressure operated means and in addition, means controlled by the movable member of the motor for supplyingy motive fluid to the pressure operated means after the movable member of the motor has travelled a predetermined distance.

The illustrated embodiment of the inven-V The Huid motor forming part of the mechanism for actuating the head in this embodiment of my invention includes a cylinder 7 yand a piston 8 movable therein and having its rod 9 connected through motion transmitting means to the lever 5.

In the pressing machine here illustrated, this motion transmitting means is a lever 10 pivoted at 1l to the frame and having an upwardly extending arm 12 which is pivoted at 13 to one end of a link 14, thev other end of which link is pivoted at 15 to the rear arm of the yoke lever 5. A suitable counterbalancing Weight 16 and spring 17 is also connected to the rear arm of the lever 5 and opens the press upon release of Huid pressure in the motor since the motor is single acting. An additional spring 18 is also connected to the lever l0 which assists' in opening the press.

The conduit system includes a feed. pipe 19 connected to any suitable source of moi tive fluid as compressed air, a casing 20 of an automatically operated valve connected to said pipe 19 and having a normally closed.

intake valve 21 and a normally open exhaust valve 22 therein, the casing being formed with an outlet passage 23 and with a passage 24 which is connected by a pipe 25 to a port 26 in the upper end of the cylinder.

The valves 21 and 22 may be of any suitable form, size and construction to act as a unit and as here shown are reciprocating valves connected by a stem 27. Also, a spring 28 tends to move said valves toward their normal position in which the inlet valve 21 is closed and the exhaust valve 22 is open. The valves are operated by pressure operated means which valves' are manually controlled and are held in their operated position by this pressure operated means. The pressure is retained in said pressure operated means to hold the valves in their operated position which retained pressure is controlled automatically by the movement of the movable member of the motor, that is, thepiston 8.

This pressure operated means comprises a diaphragm chamber 29 having diaphragms 30 and 31 therein acting upon the stem 32 ofthe exhaust v`alve 22. There are two diaphragms which are separated so that there is a space between them for a purpose to be presently described.

The manual means which controls the flow of air or motive fluid to the diaphragm chamber29 to operate the valves 21, 22 comprises a valve casing 33 having a normally closed intake valve 34 and a normally open exhaust valve 35 therein, these valves being manually operated as will be presently described. The casing 33 is connected in the conduit system directly to the source of fluid supply by a by-pass 36 around the valve casing 21. The valves 34 and 35 also act as a unit and are held in their normal position by a spring 37. A manually'actuated push button 38 acting through levers 39 and 4() on the stem 41 of the exhaust valve operates the valves. rlfhe valve casing 33 is connected by a pipe 42 to the diaphragm chamber 29.

When the button 38 is depressed, motive iuid or air will pass through the pipe 19, through by-pass 36, through the casing 33 past the normally closed intake valve 34 thence through the pipe 42 to the diaphragm chamber 29. The fluid pressure actuates the diaphragm 30 which presses against the diaphragm 31l to actuate the stem 32 of the exhaust valve 22 and hence moves the exhaust valve 22 against its seat and opens the intake valve 21. The motive fluid or air will then pass directly from the pipe 19 through the casing 20, passage 24, pipe 25 to the cylinder 7 and actuate the piston 8 on its out stroke.

The means for holding the valves 21 and 22 in their operated positions, comprises connections between the diaphragm chamber 29 and the conduit system, and means whereby the flow of air from the conduit system to the diaphragm chamber is controlled by the movement of the piston 8 or any part actuated thereby. '.lhis means includes a pipe 43 communicating through a coupling 44 with a space between the diaphragms 30 and 31 and connected to the feed ,pipe 19, in this embodiment of my invention, through the cylinder 7. v

As here illustrated, the pipe 43 is connected to a casing 45 on the outside of the cylinder 7 and communicating through a port or valve means 46 with the interior of the cylinder. The port 46 is located to be passed by the piston 8 so as to open the port to the fluid supply after the piston has traveled 0n its out stroke far enough to bring the head 1 down close to but out of pressing contact with the work on the buck 2.

Obviously, as the piston travels 0n its out stroke and passes the port or valve means 46, the -air will then pass from the pipe 19 through the valve casing 20, pipe 25, cylinder 7, port 46, casing 45, pipe 43 to the space in the diaphragm chamber between the diaphragms 30 and 31 and thus hold the valves 21, 22 in their operated position. The piston 8 continues to travel on its out stroke to apply heavy pressure. The two diaphragms 30 and 31 and the space in the diaphragm chamber 29 between them constitute in effect a second pressure operated device.

The pressure is relieved in the diaphragm chamber 29 to permit the valves 21, 22 to return to their normal position and also permit the air to exhaust from the cylinder 7` by manually operated means as a valve Casing 47 having a valve 48 therein which is closed as will be presently described when the head 1 is closed, it being moved to closed position by the push button 38. The valve casing 47 is connected by a pipe 50 to the pipe 43 or to the diaphragm chamber 29 and particularly to the space between the diaphragms 30, 31. The valve 48 is opened by a manual as a lever 51 connected thereto as will be presently described. `When this vlever 51 is pushed downwardly to open the valve 48, obviously, the air will exhaust from the space between the diaphragms 30 and 31 permitting the valves 21, 22 to move respectively to their closed and open positions and the exhaust valve 22 being open, the air is free to exhaust from the cylinder through the port 26, pipe 25, valve casing 20 out through passage 23 and the pipe connected thereto to be presently described.

rlhe operation of this lever 51 also operates the lever 39, which is actuated by the push button 38, to permit the valve 34 to close and the exhaust 35 to open so that the air is free to exhaust from the space in the diaphragm chamber 29 at the left of the diaphragm 30 through the pipe 42, valve casing 33 and exhaust passage 52 controlled by the valve 35. The lever 51 is the same as a lever 51n to be presently described which is pivoted at 53 to the stem of the valve 48, similar to the valve 48 and is ccnnected by a link 54 to the valve casing 47, similar to the casing 47. The link 54 is pivoted at one end at 55 to the lever 51 and at its other end at 56 to the casing 47 1 so that when the lever 51a is moved upwardly, the lilik 56 moves into a position where it is in a straight line with the lever 51 and forms a toggle which holds the lever in its raised position andA holds the valve 48 closed.

The lever 51 has an arm 57 extending toward the lever 39 to engage said lever when the lever 39 is depressed by the push button 38. When the push button is depressed the lever 39 is moved down against the arm 57 (Figure 3) and the press closes by reason of t-he air passing from the feed pipe 19, pipe 36, valvecasing 33'to the left side of the diaphragm chamber 29 to actuate the diaphragm 30 and press against CII the diaphragm 31 and hence actuate the stem 32 of the L-exhaust valve 22 to close said valve and open the intake valve 21, so that air flows from the feed line 19 to the cylinder 7 through valve casing 20 and pipe 25. As the piston 8 travels on its power stroke, the exhaust valve 48 re mains open. When the piston uncovers the port 46, this occurring when the lhead 1 is closed, the machine will not lock in closed position until the operator pulls up on the levers 51, 51 to close the. valve 48. The pulling `up of the, levers 51, 51a not only closes the valves 48, 48 but returns Athe push buttons 38, 38"L to their starting positlons.

The pulling up of the levers 51, 51a permits the air to pass from the pipe 43 to the space between the diaphragms 30, 31 and hence lock the exhaust valve 22 closed and the intake 21 open. Hence the ress is locked in closed position. When elther push button returns to starting position air free Ito exhaust from the left end of the diaphragm chamber 29. To open the press either lever 51, 51a may be pressed downwardly to open the valve 48 or 48 or either push button 38, 38a may be depressed as such depression Will return the lever 51 or 51EL from its up position to its starting position in which the valve 48 or 48al is open.

If only one lever or push button is used to openthe press, obviously, the next closing operation effected by using both push buttons will restore the lever 51 or 51 not used to open the press, to its starting position.

In order that two hands must be used` while the' press head is closing, a second button 38a and a lever 51a are used, the push button 38a operating to close a normall open exhaust valve 35a in a casing 33 w-hic is connected to the pipe 32. The button 38a operates a lever 39a which acts on an arm 57 on the lever 51a. It is apparent that if only the button 38 is depreed, the air instead of entering the-.diaphragm chamber 29 with sufficient pressure to operate the diaphragm 30 will pass outl through the casing 33a and exhaust passage 52, `and that in .order to obtain an` effective transfer of air to the diaphragm chamber 29, both push buttons 38 and 38a must be held depressed until the piston8 passes the port 46. Also, if only the button 38a is depressed, nothing happens as this button controls only a normally open exhaust valve. -The two hand feature forms no part of this invention.

In orderto prevent a sudden opening of the press, or in order to eifect a gradual retarding action of the opening movement of a press, the exhaust of air from the casing 20 is controlled by a valve 60 operated by the movable member or piston 8. The valve 60 is shown as a rotary valve located in a casing 61 carried by the frame and having a passage 62 communicating with the passages 63 and 64 in the casing, the passao'e 64 being connected by a pipe 65 to the exhaust passage 23 and the passage 64 opening into the outer air. The valve 60 is always more or less open and is fully open.

'60 is here shown .as provided with a rock arm 67 which is connected by a link 68 to some part actuated by the piston, it being here shown as pivoted at 69 to the arm 10. The relative position of the valve 60 is detery mined by'shifting the rock arm 67 relatively to the rod 68, this being done by means of adjusting nuts 70.

Obviously, when the press is closed, the valve passage 62 will be fully open and as the .head opens, the valve 60 will turn and the passage 62 will gradually be moved toward closed vposition thus retarding the exhaust of the air from the cylinder 8 and the opening movement of the head 1.

What I claim is:

1. An actuating mechanism including a Huid operated motor having a movable member, a supply system for a motive Huid including a valve casinghaving a normally closed intake and a normally open exhaust valve therein, a pipe connecting said casing and the motor, a by-pass around the valve casing, a second valve casing in the by-pass having a normally closed intake and a normally open exhaust valve therein, pressure operated means for operating the valves in the first casing out of their normalyposition, a pipe connecting the second valve casing and the pressure operated means, a pipe for connectin the pressure operated means with said supp y system and having a port controlled by the movement of the movable member of the .motor,'manual means for operating the valves in .the by-pass to open the intake and close the exhaust, and manual means for releasing the pressure in said pressure operated means. .A

2. An actuating mechanism including a fluid operated motor having a movable member, a supply system for a motive iuid including a valve casing having a normally closed intake and a normally open exhaust valve therein, a pipe connecting said casing and the motor, 'a by-pass around the valve casing, a second valve casing in the byass having a normally closed intake andp a normally open exhaust valve therein, pressure operated means for operating the valves in the first casing out o their normal position, a pipe connecting the second valve casing and the pressure operated means, a

pipe for connecting the pressure operated means with said supply system and having a port controlled by the movement of the movable member of the motor, manual means for operating the valves in the bypass tol open the intake and close the exhaust, manual means for releasing the pressure in said pressure operated means, a conduit connected to the exhaust port of the first valve casing, a normally open valve therein, and means operated by the movable member of the motor to move said valve toward closed position when the exhaust valve in the first casing is open.

3. ln a pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, means for actuating the movable element including a fluid operated motor having a movable member and motion transmitting mechanism between the movable member and the movable element, a valve casing having combined intake and exhaust valve means therein, said casing having an exhaust passage, a conduit connecting said casing and the fluid motor and serving as an intake and exhaust pipe, pressure operated means for controlling the operation of said intake and exhaust valve means, a control valve for controlling the flow of motive fluid to the pressure4 operated means, manual means for operating the control valve, a conduit connection between the pressure operated motor and the pressure operated means to hold it in its operated position, said conduit connection having a normally. open outlet valve therein and a handle for the valve, portions of the manual means and the handle being provided with coacting parts operating to return the manual means to its normal position upon the operation of' the handle and vice versa.

4. An actuating mechanism including a fluid operated motor having a movable member, a supply system for a motive fluid including a first valve means having a normally closed intake and a normally open exhaust valve operatively connected with the motor, pressure operated means operating the valves out of their normal position, a second valve means connected with the supply system and having a normally closed intake valve and a normally open exhaust v l valve, the second valve means being connected with the pressure' operating me'ans, manual means connected with the second valve means and operable to open the intake valve and close the exhaust valve to actuate the pressure operated means, a connection between the pressure operated means and the supply system and having valve means controlled by the movement of the movable member of the motor, and manually operated exhaust valve means for rel member of the leasing the pressure in the pressure operated means.

5. An actuating mechanism including a fluid operated motor having a movable member, a supply system for a motive fluid including a first valve means having a normally closed intake and a normally open exhaust valve operatively connected with the. motor, pressure operated means operating the valves out of their' normal position, a second valve means connected with the supply system including a normally closed intake valve and a pair of normally open exhaust valves, the second valvemeans being connected with the pressure operating means, a pair of spaced manuals connected with the second valve means, one manual being operable to open the intake valve and close one of the exhaust valves and the other manual being operable to close the other exhaust valve to actuate the pressure operated means, a connection between the pressure operated means and the supply system and having valve means controlled by the movement of the movable member of the motor, and manually operated exhaust valve means for releasing the pressure in the pressure operated means.

6. An actuating mechanism fluid operated motor having a movable member, a supply system for a motive fluid including a first valve means having a nora` mally closed intake and a normally open exhaust valve operatively connected with the motor, pressure operated means having a pair of -diaphragms each operating the valves out of their ond valve means connected with the supply system and having a normally closed intake valve and a normally open exhaust valve, the second valve means being connected with the pressure operating means to actuate one ,of the diaphragms, manual means connected with the second valve means and operable to open .the intake valve andv close the exhaust valve to actuate one of' the pressure including a normal position, a secoperated diaphragms', a connection between the other pressure operated diaphragm and the supply system and having valve means controlled by the movemept of the movable motor, and manually operated exhaust valve means for releasing the pressure in the pressure operated means.

7. ln a pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, means for actuating the movable element including a fluid operated motor having a movable member and motion transmitting mechanism between the movable member and the movable element, a supply system for a motive fluid Vincluding a first valve means having a p normally closed intake and a normally open exhaust valve operatively connected with the motor, pressure operated means operating the Valves ou!l of their normal position, a' second valve means connected with the supplyif system including a normally closed inta e valve and a palr of normally open exhaust valves, the second valve means being connected with the pressure operating means, a pair of spaced manuals connected with the second valve means, one manual being operable to open the intake valve andclose one of the exhaust valves and the other manual being operable to close the other exhaust valve to actuate the pressure operated means, a connection between the pressure operated means and the supply system and 5 having valve means controlled by the movel ment of the movable member of the motor, a pair of normally open outlet valves in the connection and a handle for each valve, portions of each manual and one of the han- Zofdles being provided with coacting parts operating to return the manual means to its normal position upon the operation of the handle and vice versa.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name, at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, and in the State of New York, this 20th day of March, 1928.

ERNEST DAVIS. 

